Exclusive | Account of a Police Officer: They are Filming Us in 'Noor Plan'; Fariborz Karami-Zand: They Fear 'Mutiny'

A police officer stated in a message to Voice of America that the plainclothes forces present in the 'Noor Plan' are tasked with monitoring and filming officers to address potential cases of 'mutiny.' Fariborz Karami-Zand, a former police officer, confirmed this account, stating that commanders, often from the Revolutionary Guard, are aware that 'widespread dissatisfaction ultimately leads to mutiny.' This police officer (details about him are available but cannot be published due to security issues) claims that there is significant dissatisfaction within the police force regarding the implementation of this plan, and even individuals who politically 'have no problem with the system' oppose its execution, stating, 'Our job is something else, not harassing women and children.' According to this police officer's claims, due to the extensive nature of the crackdown on women's right to choose their dress, personnel from various departments and even experienced officers from police stations have been utilized, which has exacerbated dissatisfaction. According to this account, senior commanders of the police force, aware of these dissatisfactions, aim to prevent any 'mutiny' or leniency towards women. Voice of America cannot independently confirm or deny this claim. In numerous videos circulated on social media, the violence of the officers is clearly visible, while some users have also reported the 'frustration' or 'impatience' of the officers. In this new wave of repression against women for having optional dress, no cases of mutiny or behavior contrary to the usual conduct of police officers have been reported; however, previously, in Bahman 1401, the release of a video showing a police officer in Kermanshah refusing a religious woman's request to confront another woman regarding her hijab caused controversy, and it was reported that 'Behnam Zarei' faced repercussions. Voice of America also discussed the account received from this police officer with Fariborz Karami-Zand, a former police officer and expert on security and military issues. Fariborz Karami-Zand stated to the Persian section of Voice of America that 'the filming of officers or compatriots in the streets is done by some forces, often in plain clothes, under the guise of documentation, but various units are involved in this documentation.' According to this former police officer, the main responsibility for this 'documentation' lies with the 'Social Deputy of the Police,' and it is used 'to produce news or news bulletins,' while at the same time, 'some units such as inspections, information protection, and ideological-political units' also conduct 'documentations' to 'record the behavior of officers present at the scene' under the misleading title of respecting citizens' rights by officers, but 'ultimately, these recordings by these supervisory units are used to pressure personnel.' This security and military expert stated, 'I completely confirm that this type of filming is done by supervisory units,' adding that 'in addition to the Social Deputy and the unit present at the scene, other groups including the relief unit, special unit, security police, and preventive police also have their own documentations, but the documentations done by supervisory units are for recording personnel behavior.' Fariborz Karami-Zand also spoke about the dissatisfaction among police personnel regarding the implementation of the 'Noor Plan,' saying, 'This is a nationwide plan, meaning that Radwan, the commander of the police, has drafted and issued a plan that involves all units in its execution.' He stated that although 'the issue of moral security is the responsibility of the moral security police,' the same entity now referred to as the 'Intelligence Organization,' 'Radwan has drafted a plan that involves all personnel and units of the police.' Mr. Karami-Zand explained, 'The images I see from cities, especially Tehran, show a strong presence of the special unit and the relief unit. Some personnel from the special unit are also present in this plan wearing relief unit uniforms, and it is a nationwide plan.' Emphasizing that the existing dissatisfactions 'indicate that Radwan has not been able to convince the moral security police to implement this plan alone and to reduce the level of dissatisfaction and prevent it from leading to mutiny,' he stated that all police units are being utilized for this plan. He defines 'mutiny' as an act where 'personnel directly resist executing orders' and refuse to comply, adding, 'To prevent this from happening, Radwan has used all units in this plan and sought to lower the level of dissatisfaction.' Fariborz Karami-Zand emphasized that among police personnel, 'dissatisfaction naturally exists' because 'the moral security plans or as they call them social plans being implemented bear no resemblance to police behavior in society.' He stated, 'The police have defined duties worldwide, which include protecting citizens from criminals; criminals who may be murderers, thieves, or rapists. But the police that confront people over hijab is something we only see in the Islamic Republic, and naturally, there is dissatisfaction among personnel, and they fear that this dissatisfaction will lead to mutiny.' According to this military and security expert, 'widespread dissatisfaction ultimately leads to mutiny, and mutiny causes attrition.' He also said, 'I think the commanders of the police, most of whom are from the Revolutionary Guards, are well aware of this issue, and that is why they have implemented this plan so extensively and utilized all units to lower the level of dissatisfaction, but what is clear is that the situation is heading towards increasing dissatisfaction day by day.' Since April 14, the Islamic Republic has deployed its police and plainclothes forces in various cities under the new crackdown on women's optional dress titled 'Noor Plan,' but despite widespread arrests, civil resistance against it continues.